J. Robb - Bump in The Night

„He belonged to a woman who spent her last days here at Spirit Lake. When she knew the end of her life was near, she asked me to keep him safe until I found him the perfect home.“

„I’d say you already have. He’s lucky to have you.“

„We are both fortunate.“ When Grace handed him a mug of steaming coffee, Wyatt gave her a smile. „Thank you.“

Grace indicated the sofa. „Why don’t you sit here by the fire? We were just thinking about some breakfast. Would you join us?“

„Thank you. I will.“ He sank down gratefully and sipped his coffee.

„So.“ Josh poured himself coffee and stood with his back to the fire. „You stay here all year round?“

The old man nodded. „I am surprised to find anyone else here. What brings you to Spirit Lake so late in the season?“

Grace poured water into a bowl and set it on the floor, watching as Barnaby began to drink. „Josh is here to film a journey through the wilderness for a television producer.“ She began breaking eggs into a bowl before stirring them. „And I work for a newsmagazine that wants me to photograph the light that dances across the lake.“ She paused before asking, „Have you ever seen it?“

„Not many have had that privilege. But in my youth some of the old ones in our village claimed to have seen her.“

„Her? You know for certain it’s a woman?“ The egg mixture was forgotten. Too excited to think about food, Grace sat beside him. „What can you tell me about her?“

Without a word Josh moved to the small kitchen counter to take up the chore that Grace had abandoned.

The old man turned to Grace, who was twitching with excitement. „What would you like to know?“

„For openers, who she is and why she’s here.“

The old man sipped his coffee before setting it aside. „Her name has been lost through the ages. She was accused by her husband, elderly chief of an ancient people, of lying with another man. She did not deny it, but said that the man was a warrior, who had left to fight the intruders on the border. Among the ancient people warriors were considered more worthy of esteem than even the chief, for without brave warriors to see to their safety, their small nation would surely disappear as so many others had before them. The council decreed that if the warrior claimed the woman upon his return, it would be his right, and the old chief must step aside for the good of the people. The chief had no choice but to agree, but he stipulated that, whatever the outcome, their young daughter would remain with him. Though the young wife wept bitter tears over the loss of her daughter, she was shut out of the chief’s lodge and sent away to await her warrior lover.“

As he crossed the room to place the egg mixture in a skillet over the fire, Josh glanced at Grace’s face. She was clearly as fascinated by this old man’s tale as he was. While he slowly heated the eggs and set bread on the grate to brown, he listened carefully to the old man’s voice.

„The woman had been married to the old chief when she was but ten and three years, and now she was confined to a cold, tiny shelter outside the circle of the others.“

Grace broke into his narrative. „She was only thirteen when they were married?“

The old man nodded. „The ancient ones married young, and often died young. And because he was chief, when his old wife joined the spirit world, he chose a young, strong maiden to see him through his old age. As you can imagine, this handsome young warrior, so brave, so full of passion and love and laughter, had brought spring into the young woman’s life. She could no more resist him than she could refuse to breathe. But the excitement she felt for him was overshadowed by the loss of the daughter she loved above all things.“

Josh filled three plates and carried them to the scarred coffee table, before pulling up a chair for himself. Besides the scrambled eggs, Josh had added fresh, pan-fried trout from the bucket of fish.

Wyatt Eagle studied the meal. „This is a rare treat. I have not tasted such as this for a very long time.“

„Then I’m glad we had some to share with you.“ Grace glanced over at Josh. „I’m so glad you finished what I started. This is really good.“

He winked at her, causing her heart to do an odd little dance. „Happy to oblige, ma’am.“

They both fell silent as they savored their meal, but it was obvious that Grace wanted to know more about the legend.

When at last Wyatt Eagle sat back, sipping strong black coffee, she could wait no longer. „Did the maiden’s warrior return?“

Wyatt watched as both she and Josh shared their food with Barnaby. The dog ate his fill, before stretching out in front of the fire. Only then did the old man return to his tale.

„One day, as the bleak winter days turned into weeks, and the weeks into months, the woman heard voices raised in celebration. Racing from her shelter she hurried to the cluster of people, searching for the face of her warrior. One of the young braves stepped forward to tell her that her beloved had died in battle. Dropping to the ground, she buried her face in her hands and wept bitter tears. As the hours passed, she realized how desperate her situation had become. A lone female, without the protection of a warrior, couldn’t possibly survive in this harsh land. Swallowing her pride, she made her way to the chief’s shelter. When she entered, the voices of the others fell silent. The chief stood, pushing his little daughter behind him. From the corner of her father’s robe, the child peered at the mother who was now a stranger. The woman bowed before the chief and admitted the shame she had brought to him, asking him to find it in his heart to forgive her. She promised from that day forward to lie with him and cook for him, so that together they could raise up their child to take her proper place among their people. The chief’s face became as dark as a thundercloud, and his voice roared like that of the black bear as he told her that because she had shamed him, he would never take her back. If she wished to survive, she must uncover the warrior within herself. Then he turned her fate over to the council, who ordered her to be tossed into the frigid waters of the lake.“

Grace put a hand to her mouth. „In the dead of winter? What a cruel death.“

Wyatt nodded. „Not so cruel. The woman was prepared to pay the price of her infidelity. The people knew that the Great Spirits lived in their kingdom beneath the water. Even now, the woman’s warrior lover was dwelling there with them. Now would she go to him. When the tribal elders tossed her into the icy water, moonlight glinted off the waves, like a beacon. At once her body went numb with cold. Within minutes she could no longer feel her hands or feet. Her body sank below the water and she gave herself up to the fate awaiting her. Suddenly, with a great rush of sound, the lake came alive. Waves rose up taller than the trees that ringed the shore. Fish that had been sleeping in the deep awoke and swam in wild profusion around her.

Water that had been laced with ice floes was now as warm as if it had been heated over a fire. A mighty wave lifted the woman on its crest, sweeping her above the waves. Her body began to take on a new form, and the form became that of a beautiful but fierce warrior woman in flowing robes, her hair golden, skin luminous as freshwater pearls. It is said that even now she waits out there in the lake, hoping for a glimpse of the daughter she loved more than her own life. Thus was born the legend of the warrior woman of the lake, for there is no warrior more ferocious than a mother denied the love of her child. Like a she-bear, she will wait and watch and do whatever is necessary to reclaim the love that was lost.“

Grace’s tone grew hushed. „Do you think she was able to make peace with her child?“